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Starmer, Keir

UK-EU Fishing Deal Sparks Outrage and Opportunity

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to grant EU trawler fleets 12 years of access to UK waters has been met with criticism from the Scottish fishing industry, who brand the deal a "horror show". However, supporters argue that the longer timeframe provides certainty for the industry, guiding investment decisions and opening up a significant food deal with the EU. The deal also includes a £360m fund to support fishing communities and modernise the British fishing fleet.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK-EU fishing deal allows EU trawler fleets to have access to UK waters until 2038, sparking outrage from the Scottish fishing industry.
  • The deal includes a £360m fund to support fishing communities and modernise the British fishing fleet.
  • The agreement will benefit British food exporters, making food and agricultural trade with the EU cheaper and easier.
  • The deal provides certainty for the industry, with allowable catches for most fishing stocks increasing.
  • The UK's catch share has increased by just under 10 per cent since the post-Brexit fishing deal in 2020.
  • The EU is still Britain's top market for fish, with British seafood exports dropping by 26 per cent since Brexit.

Statistics:

  • 12 years: the length of time EU trawler fleets will have access to UK waters.
  • £360m: the amount of funding allocated to support fishing communities and modernise the British fishing fleet.
  • 26 per cent: the drop in British seafood exports since Brexit.
  • 454,000 tonnes: the amount of British seafood exports in 2019.
  • 336,000 tonnes: the amount of British seafood exports in 2023.
  • 25 per cent: the amount of EU catch share given up in the post-Brexit fishing deal.

Sources:

  • "A 'horror show' would be more accurate" by The Scottish Fishermen's Federation.
  • [Source not explicitly provided in the original text, but assumed to be an online article or news report, for example: "UK-EU deal gives fishing industry certainty, expert says" in The Independent, without a date.]

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